Optical Studies of 8 AM Herculis-Type Cataclysmic Variable Stars

descriptionPublicationkeyboard_double_arrow_right Article , Preprint 01 Jan 2020Embargo end date: 01 Jan 2020Funded by:NSF | Fundamental Astronomy of ..., NSF | Open Exploration of the T..., NSF | The Catalina Real-Time Tr...

Authors: Thorstensen, John R.; Motsoaledi, Mokhine; Buckley, David A. H.; Woudt, Patrick; Warner, Brian;

doi: 10.48550/arxiv.2006.08078

arXiv: 2006.08078

Optical Studies of 8 AM Herculis-Type Cataclysmic Variable Stars

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Abstract

We report detailed follow-up observations of 8 cataclysmic variable stars (CVs) that are apparently AM Her stars, also called polars. For all, we either determine orbital periods for the first time, or improve on existing determinations. The seven for which we have spectra show the high-amplitude radial velocity curves and prominent HeII 4686 emission lines characteristic of strongly magnetic CVs, and their periods, which range from 81 to 219 minutes, are also typical for AM Her stars. Two objects from the Gaia-alerts index, Gaia18aot and Gaia18aya, are newly identified as CVs. Another, RX J0636.3+6554, eclipses deeply, while CSS080228:081210+040352 shows a sharp dip that is apparently a partial eclipse. The spectrum of Gaia18aya has a cyclotron harmonic near 5500 Angstroms that constrains the surface field to about 49 Megagauss or greater.

Astronomical Journal, in press

Related Organizations

California Institute of Technology
United States
University of Cape Town
South Africa
Dartmouth College
United States
Department of Physics and Astronomy
United States
University of Cape Town (South Africa)
South Africa

Keywords

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena (astro-ph.HE), Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics, FOS: Physical sciences, Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena, Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)

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NSF| Fundamental Astronomy of Cataclysmic Binaries, NSF| Open Exploration of the Time Domain with the Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey, NSF| The Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey (CRTS)